Electric Toothbrush

An electric toothbrush is a relatively recent development in dental equipment which uses electric power to move the head of the brush. It usually does this in an oscillating pattern which is a system of repetitive variations. Electric toothbrushes are also known as 'rotary' toothbrushes.

The Development of the Electric Toothbrush

Although a product from the late 1800's exists known as an 'electric toothbrush' the first proper electric toothbrush as we understand it (where the head of the brush moves by electric power) was invented in Switzerland in 1954 by Dr Philippe-Guy Woog. In 1956 the first clinical study which demonstrated the electric toothbrush was superior to manual brushing was published by Arthur Jean Held. The original electric toothbrushes were intended for patients without the motor skills to brush manually and patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. Due to various problems with power supplies the mainstay of the American electric toothbrush market, during the 1990's the Broxo range of brushes was gradually overtaken by low-voltage models from large companies such as Braun and Philips.

The Benefits

Electric toothbrushes were for a long time believed to be superior to manual brushing by leaving the user less room to brush incorrectly. However recent studies into the effectiveness of electric toothbrushes have found that the majority of models on the market are no more effective than brushing manually. Some models, which use a 'rotation oscillation' system were found to be more effective than manual brushing, but only by a slight margin. Current research indicates that the manner in which brushing is performed is much more important than what kind of brush is used. However for certain patients with limited dexterity or who have difficulty reaching rear teeth, most dental organisations agree that electric toothbrushes can provide benefits.